Fire safety in the operating room

1. To understand why and how a fire occurs, one needs to look at what is ignited, how it was ignited, and any other factors that may have changed either of these concepts. The three most common ignition sources are lasers, electric cautery equipment, and high intensity light cords. 2. There are four human reactions to fire: disbelief; do nothing; reconsideration of the existence of fire; and taking some action. 3. The best method of fighting a fire is to avoid having one. Emphasis should be placed on prevention. Every OR education program should include elements of a prefire plan that is consistent with the prefire plan for the institution.